A Bury Reform councillor has sparked debate after he complained Transport for Greater Manchester did not hand out bottles of water to travellers during the bank holiday heatwave.
No free water during the heatwave and engineering works during the school holidays
Jerome Roith took to social media to urge people to take their own water with them if travelling around Greater Manchester. Carriages were ‘touching 40 degrees’, he said, while accusing the network of offering ‘no assistance’ to elderly or vulnerable people.
He also referenced the engineering works taking place on parts of the network over the May half term before asking: “What will it take for the leadership to understand the needs of their customers?”
The Bury Reform group has backed Coun Roith’s comments, saying if passengers are ‘experiencing excessive temperatures, insufficient support for vulnerable passengers, or poor communication during engineering works’, then those concerns ‘should absolutely be taken seriously and addressed urgently by the relevant authorities’.
TfGM: water is available at most interchanges
But Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said it did make water available for drivers and customers at the ‘majority’ of its interchanges and bus stations during yesterday’s high temperatures. In most places, these were supplied in water coolers, but some sites had bottled or canned water, a spokesman said.
Ian Davies, TfGM’s network director for Metrolink, said the ‘safety and wellbeing’ of passengers is ‘of the utmost importance’ to the team.
The engineering work currently taking place is ‘essential’ to keep the Metrolink ‘safe, resilient and reliable for years to come’, Mr Davies added. Such work is typically planned for the school holidays and quieter times to ‘keep disruption to a minimum’, he said.
Changes to the network were ‘scheduled well in advance’ and highlighted in the press and online, the spokesman said.
Common sense to have water with you during a heatwave?
Coun Roith’s comments have divided residents online with some residents saying it was ‘common sense’ for those out and about in the heat to take their own water with them.
One commenter said: “Next you’ll be asking for cups of tea and blankets for the winter time! Bring your own water, it’s not up to the tram service to provide water.”
A second added: “On the way to tram stops you usually pass these establishments that provide access to the public, you’ll see shelves stocked with various products, one of these products is bottled water.”
“Why would they provide water,” a third person asked. “You have a tap at home, just fill up a bottle and take it with you. It’s called common sense.”
Others agreed with Coun Roith’s concerns about the high temperatures on the trams, with one saying: “Not everyone has money to just go buy things and some people really seem to struggle with the idea of that.
“Some people don’t have a single penny […] Very few places have public facilities or drinking water fountains. Why does everyone get so irate over helping people who need it?”
Another added: “Trams are far too full on most days but on hotter days it’s causing many, young and old to faint. Why is there no air conditioning fitted? Crazy!”
People also seemed to agree that works are best placed to take place during the school holidays. An individual asked: “When would you like engineering works to take place?
“During non half term weeks when more people are trying to get to work and back? On a weekend, when labour costs are paid at overtime rate? Or how about when it’s chucking it down?”
Reform UK: Cllr Roith expressed concerns for Bury residents
The Local Democracy Reporting Service tried to speak to Coun Roith about his concerns, but were told by the Bury Reform group that, ‘as far as he was concerned, his post is self-explanatory”.
Leader of the group Jack Rydeheard said: “A councillor’s role is to make known the views of their residents and be a positive force for change in the public arena. Coun Roith was elected with a mandate to do that and as such I welcome the discussion which has emerged in relation to conditions on the Metrolink in the hot weather.
“When it comes to public transport, our primary concern is ensuring residents across Bury are provided with a transport network that is reliable, responsive and focused on passenger welfare and practical service delivery. Public transport users deserve safe, reliable and comfortable journeys, particularly during periods of very hot weather and major disruption.
“If passengers are experiencing excessive temperatures, insufficient support for vulnerable passengers, or poor communication during engineering works, then those concerns should absolutely be taken seriously and addressed urgently by the relevant authorities.
“At the same time, it is important that any specific operational claims are properly clarified and responded to directly by TfGM and Bee Network management. Coun Roith has written to TfGM specifically outlining his concerns, as he should, and expects a response to be forthcoming in due course.
“I’d like to thank the media for picking this up and I am sure that they have done so for public interest and not to try to belittle the justified concerns of a newly elected Reform UK Councillor.”
Mr Davies, Transport for Greater Manchester:
Mr Davies said: “The safety and wellbeing of our passengers is of the utmost importance to us. We had water available for drivers and the public at the majority of our interchanges and bus stations yesterday, with more supplies being delivered today and tomorrow.
“Our staff are out on the network helping people to make their journeys and we encourage people to carry water and avoid travelling during the hottest part of the day where possible. We would also encourage people to look out for their fellow passengers and, if they are able to, give up seats for more vulnerable customers, particularly when travelling in the high temperatures we have seen over recent days.”
He added: “The engineering work currently taking place on our tram network is essential to keep it safe, resilient and reliable for years to come. We aim to keep disruption to a minimum which is why we try and plan works during school holidays and quieter times on the network.
“Replacement bus services are available from all affected stops on the Oldham-Rochdale line and passengers affected by the Piccadilly Gardens work can use the free bus to get around the city centre. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we complete these critical engineering works which will speed up the network and reduce journey times
“We strive for continuous improvement and welcome feedback from our customers via the Rate Your Journey function on the Bee Network app, or via phone or email.”
By Local Democracy Reporter Hannah Richardson.
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